we go back to the clinton tax rates. and we make significant cuts to the deficit and they say, hey, they did something substantial about the major financial problem that's facing this country. >> what about the entitlements issue? the president's plan calls for $1.6 trillion in tax increases in ten years. $400 billion in entitlement cuts without being specific. are you worried that republicans will have to own the push to make cuts to medicare and medicaid and capping mortgage interest deductions? >> ultimately for republicans the best thing is to get some bipartisan agreement on cutting entitlements. they are disadvantaged on that issue right now. but entitlements are where the money is. you have to look at medicare and medicaid in terms of finding savings. it doesn't get meaningful until you look at those programs combined with revenue. >> can i ask you, is the government capable of spending less money than it takes in? can they generate a surplus in these times. >> they did it during bill clinton. >> that was a couple